Welcome to the Poetry of Nonsense Clown Lab

Embark on a journey of discovery towards play, creativity and connection in this 4-part workshop series aimed at exploring the poetic absurd possibilities of your clown. The clown workshops are held over 2-day weekends across the year.​

1. Clown & Presence 


​WHAT IS THE ESSENCE OF THE CLOWN (OF YOUR CLOWN), ITS STATE OF BEING? UNCOVER CLOWNING THROUGH SILENCE & STILLNESS AND FIND THE PLEASURE IN DISCOVERY.
Explore the notion of presence and how to cultivate your inner voice as a clown actor ready to receive, feel and share with the world.  You will encounter the stage and practice the state of being fully alive and present to the moment in all aspects – emotionally, physically and mentally. Nourishing self-awareness whilst feeding your imagination and creativity.

Clowning is an adventure, so together we’ll embrace the uncertainty and enjoy the journey - searching for the beauty and poetry of your clown.
​
In two days we will explore:
  • A sense of openness, available to make offers & receive them
  • Establishing ‘complicité’ - connectedness and a shared understanding
  • Finding the pleasure in discovery and treating each situation like it’s new
  • Finding your fixed point, breath, enjoying the silences in between the sounds and actions
  • Mini field trip – observing and listening to natural rhythms of life
  • Lots of laughter
SUITABILITY
  • Open to improvisers, poets, stand-ups, comedians, circus and theatre makers, directors, and devisors from other disciplines, actors and artists practicing the art of clowning or seeking provocation and growth.
DURATION
  • These are two full day workshop labs (10 hours).
LOCATION
  • Typically, these clown workshops can be delivered at a rehearsal studio, community hall or at a theatre venue. They can also be tailored to remote learning via Zoom, please send an enquiry with your booking preferences.
COST
These clown intensives can be taken as stand-alone workshops or as part of a package. What separates these intensive clown workshops from many others is the large portion of on-stage time you're given, with each workshop limited to small numbers. You put the skills into practice immediately in front of a receptive, appreciative, and supportive audience and receive individual feedback. Less talkie talkie and more action.

  • Full price - $315 per person
  • Early bird discount - $275 per person
  • Package 4 x 2 full day clown labs - $825 per person
  • For weekend clown labs delivered online - $250 pp (maximum of 10 people)

 2. Clown & Body


​PHYSICAL APPROACHES TO FINDING & CREATING A
​CLOWNESQUE BODY VIA EVERYDAY PHENOMENA LIKE MATERIALS, OBJECTS​ & NATURE.
Engaging your body in a state of play and action, this workshop is designed to stretch your awareness of your physical presence and its playful possibilities. We will crack your body open like a beautifool little rose bud searching for the clown state – from the poetic to the grotesque, bringing the clown’s body to a state of readiness: aware of rhythm, space and breath.
​
In two days we will explore: 
  • Introduction to the petit mask the red nose - explore the poetic body as a mask and as one giant muscle of creative expression.
  • Discover physical dramatic tensions and how we can endow these to the clown
  • Look at the relationship with the public and the pleasure of sharing.
  • Explore phenomena like the elements, objects and animals as a basis to creating the clown body
  • Lots of laughter.
SUITABILITY
  • Open to improvisers, poets, stand-ups, comedians, circus and theatre makers, directors, and devisors from other disciplines, actors and artists practicing the art of clowning or seeking provocation and growth.
DURATION
  • These are two full day workshop labs (10 hours).
LOCATION
  • Typically, these clown workshops can be delivered at a rehearsal studio, community hall or at a theatre venue. They can also be tailored to remote learning via Zoom, please send an enquiry with your booking preferences.
COST
These clown intensives can be taken as stand-alone workshops or as part of a package. What separates these intensive clown workshops from many others is the large portion of on-stage time you're given, with each workshop limited to small numbers. You put the skills into practice immediately in front of a receptive, appreciative, and supportive audience and receive individual feedback. Less talkie talkie and more action.

  • Full price - $315 per person
  • Early bird discount - $275 per person
  • Package 4 x 2 full day clown labs - $825 per person
  • For weekend clown labs delivered online - $250 pp (maximum of 10 people)

3. Clown & Music


​EXPLORING LIVE SOUND & DIFFERENT MUSICAL WORKS
TO CREATE MOMENTS OF CONFLICT AND COMEDY
​FOR THE CLOWN.
Immerse yourself in play and wonder and explore the comic-poetic potential of music and sound. Together we’ll discover how live sound and different musical works can create moments of conflict and comedy for the clown.

​Working in duos, trios and as a group ensemble you will play and improvise with voice and instruments, supporting one another to take funnier and greater risks leading to an expansion of ridiculous possibilities. 
​
In two days we will explore:
  • Finding the clown thinking and movement via the 'follie' of music
  • Working in duos and trios to create harmony and disharmony
  • Creating soundscapes and atmospheric compositions for clown performance
  • Working with the body, imagination, space and rhythm to find your musical clown
  • Lots of laughter
SUITABILITY
  • Open to improvisers, poets, stand-ups, comedians, circus and theatre makers, directors, and devisors from other disciplines, actors and artists practicing the art of clowning or seeking provocation and growth.
DURATION
  • These are two full day workshop labs (10 hours).
LOCATION
  • Typically, these clown workshops can be delivered at a rehearsal studio, community hall or at a theatre venue. They can also be tailored to remote learning via Zoom, please send an enquiry with your booking preferences.
COST
These clown intensives can be taken as stand-alone workshops or as part of a package. What separates these intensive clown workshops from many others is the large portion of on-stage time you're given, with each workshop limited to small numbers. You put the skills into practice immediately in front of a receptive, appreciative, and supportive audience and receive individual feedback. Less talkie talkie and more action.

  • Full price - $315 per person
  • Early bird discount - $275 per person
  • Package 4 x 2 full day clown labs - $825 per person
  • For weekend clown labs delivered online - $250 pp (maximum of 10 people)

4. Clown & Melodrama


​AN INVESTIGATION INTO FINDING A THEATRICAL LANGUAGE TO TRANSFORM PERSONAL HUMAN TRAGEDIES & NARRATIVES INTO WORKS OF POETIC CLOWN PERFORMANCE FOR THE STAGE.
We will search for what it is that we wish to awaken in others. Clowning is the language of the heart and the clown’s job can be to remind people of their humanity. We'll discover in clowning a real intimacy between you and people that is related to truth, the energy and emotions of the heart.
 
How do clowns deal with tragic situations? It’s not always about being funny; clowning can be about creating empathetic moments. We can play in themes about separation, love, sickness, loneliness and more!
 
In two days we will explore:
  • Creating identifiable life moments and images that provoke humour and pathos 
  • Discovering the dramatic and empathetic space in clowning
  • Playing and subverting tragedy for comedy
  • Searching for clown logic in human tragedies encouraging your vulnerability to surface
  • Lots of laughter and sighing 
  • Be ready to work with strong, sensitive and confrontational themes
SUITABILITY
  • Open to improvisers, poets, stand-ups, comedians, circus and theatre makers, directors, and devisors from other disciplines, actors and artists practicing the art of clowning or seeking provocation and growth.
DURATION
  • These are two full day workshop labs (10 hours).
LOCATION
  • Typically, these clown workshops can be delivered at a rehearsal studio, community hall or at a theatre venue. They can also be tailored to remote learning via Zoom, please send an enquiry with your booking preferences.
COST
These clown intensives can be taken as stand-alone workshops or as part of a package. What separates these intensive clown workshops from many others is the large portion of on-stage time you're given, with each workshop limited to small numbers. You put the skills into practice immediately in front of a receptive, appreciative, and supportive audience and receive individual feedback. Less talkie talkie and more action.

  • Full price - $315 per person
  • Early bird discount - $275 per person
  • Package 4 x 2 full day clown labs - $825 per person
  • For weekend clown labs delivered online - $250 pp (maximum of 10 people)
Celebrating the Poetry of Your Nonsense since 2015.
​© 2020 The Clown Institute ABN 52 823 439 492